Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 12 March 2026
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 12 March 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Meeting Education and Children's Services Policy Board Date Time Venue Thursday, 12 March 2026 13:00 Council Chambers (Renfrewshire), Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AN Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Fiona Airlie-Nicolson, Provost Lorraine Cameron, Councillor Carolann Davidson, Councillor Audrey Doig, Councillor Edward Grady, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor Neill Graham, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Councillor David McGonigle, Councillor Marie McGurk, Councillor Iain McMillan, Mr Jack Nellaney, Councillor Iain Nicolson, Councillor Jim Paterson, Councillor Emma Rodden, Mr Ravinder Singh, Councillor Ben Smith Chair Councillor Rodden, Convener, presided. In Attendance J O'Neill, Director of Children's Services; A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development (Chief Executive's); E Henry, Head of Education, G McLaughlin, Head of Education (Strategy & Improvement), J Trainer, Head of Children & Justice Social Work, J Lochans, Strategic Manager (Learning Estate Strategy & Delivery), M Gilligan, Social Work Manager Operations Promise Lead and S Macrae, Promise Ambassador (all Children's Services); C Dalrymple, Head of Facilities & Property Management (Environment, Housing & Infrastructure); and R Conway, Finance Business Partner and E Gray and C MacDonald, both Senior Committee Services Officers (all Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Policy Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site. Apology Mary Jane Bird.
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Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. Transparency Statements Councillor Paterson indicated that he had a connection to item 5 by reason that he had a child who attended one of the early years centres which were proposed to receive funding. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare. Councillor McMillan indicated that he had a connection to item 3 by reason that he had a grandchild who attended one of the schools referenced in the report. However, he indicated that he had applied the objective test and did not consider he had an interest to declare. 1 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring as at 9 January 2026 There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the year end projected revenue and capital outturns as at 9 January 2026 for those services reporting to this Board. DECIDED: (a) That the projected revenue outturn position for Children's Services detailed in Table 1 of the report be noted; and (b) That the projected capital outturn position for Children's Services detailed in Table 2 of the report be noted. 2 Learning Estate Programme Update There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the progress made towards the delivery of the Learning Estate Programme, specifically in respect of works at the Paisley Grammar School Community Campus, Park Mains High School extension and internal interventions and Thistle Primary School. DECIDED: That the progress of project delivery in the Learning Estate Programme be noted. 3 Learning Estate Strategy Update – Outline Business Cases There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the outcome of the Outline Business Cases (OBC) which investigated potential options for improvement of the Johnstone primary school estate, Johnstone High School and Trinity High School. The report summarised the findings and provided a shortlist of
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options for each project, together with indicative costs. The Outline Business Cases for each project were attached at Appendices 1 to 3 of the report respectively. During discussion a number of corrections to content of the report were noted as follows: • page 155 of the report - row 4 in the table should note that the site at Beith Road Playing fields was viable and should be taken forward to the full business case stage; • page 217 of the agenda - line 6 of the table should have referred to Bargarran Primary School, Erskine; and • page 217 of the agenda - line 7 of the table should have referred to Broomhill, Inchinnan. Councillor Paterson, seconded by Councillor Hughes moved that: "(a) Note the contents of the three OBC documents in respect of the Johnstone Primary estate, Johnstone High School and Trinity High School, as outlined in this report; (b) Note the officers’ assessment of the Netherton Avenue site and agree that a further detailed report examining the legal, financial and deliverability considerations associated with this site be presented to the Board for further consideration. This report should include a comparison with the constraints and costs associated with the other site options. Members will then be able to take a fully informed decision on the site ahead of the next stages of delivering the Council’s Learning Estate Strategy; (c) Agree to the shortlisted options recommended in the OBC to be taken forward to Full Business Case stage (FBC); (d) Note the proposal to further develop the shortlisted options during 2026 as part of a FBC, and to present the final recommended option for each business case to this Policy Board early in 2027; and (e) Note the FBC development budget proposed for each project which will enable technical issues to be progressed to further inform the feasibility of options, allowing a robust final recommendation for each business case in early 2027 to be developed." Councillor Smith, seconded by Councillor G Graham, moved an amendment as an addition to the motion as follows: "Board agrees that following today’s board meeting a Member Officer Working Group will be established to allow for dialogue between members of the boards and the Project Team." Following discussion, Councillors Smith and G Graham, being the mover and seconder of the amendment, agreed in terms of Standing Order 27 to withdraw the amendment. The motion was accordingly agreed unanimously. DECIDED:
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(a) That the contents of the three Outline Business Case (OBC) documents in respect of the Johnstone Primary estate, Johnstone High School and Trinity High School, as outlined in the report, be noted; (b) That the officers’ assessment of the Netherton Avenue site be noted and that it be agreed that a further detailed report examining the legal, financial and deliverability considerations associated with this site be presented to the Board for further consideration. The report should include a comparison with the constraints and costs associated with the other site options to allow Members to be able to take a fully informed decision on the site ahead of the next stages of delivering the Council’s Learning Estate Strategy; (c) That it be agreed that the shortlisted options recommended in the OBC be taken forward to Full Business Case stage (FBC); (d) That the proposal to further develop the shortlisted options during 2026 as part of a FBC, and to present the final recommended option for each business case to this Policy Board early in 2027 be noted; and (e) That it be noted that the FBC development budget proposed for each project would enable technical issues to be progressed to further inform the feasibility of options, allowing a robust final recommendation for each business case in early 2027 to be developed. 4 Inclusion Portfolio Progress There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to progress made throughout 2025/26 on the Council's Inclusion Portfolio which aimed to draw together staged intervention, transitions, targeted provision, educational psychology, multi-agency partnerships, and policy development. The report identified both the achievements and future developments to support continuous improvement. DECIDED: That the progress update be noted. 5 Distribution of Funding to Support Services for Children and Families – Funding Allocation for 2026/27 There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the allocation of funding to support a range of private and voluntary sector organisations which delivered services for families with young children. DECIDED: (a) That the grant funding to support the delivery of services for children and young people as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report be approved; and (b) That the proposed allocation of grant funding for out of school care and pre-five voluntary sector (subject to the completion of satisfactory checks and assessments) as detailed in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report be agreed.
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6 Report on Keeping The Promise in Renfrewshire There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the delivery of The Promise within Renfrewshire, ensuring care experienced infants, children, young people and families were safe, loved and respected. The report summarised key developments across early help, whole-family support, education, youth voice, employability and children’s hearings. DECIDED: That the contents of both Renfrewshire’s Promise 2026 and The Pinky Promise 2026, attached at Appendices 1 and 2 of the report, which outlined Renfrewshire’s progress in delivering The Promise during 2025/26 be noted. 7 Inspection of Castlehead High School by His Majesty’s Inspectorate in Scotland There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the results of an inspection of Castlehead High School carried out by Education Scotland. The letter sent by Education Scotland to the parents and carers of pupils detailing the outcome of the inspection was set out at Appendix 1 of the report. DECIDED: That the key strengths in the Education Scotland report for Castlehead High School be noted and celebrated and the areas for further improvement be recognised. 8 Inspection of Glencoats Primary School by Education Scotland There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the results of an inspection of Glencoats Primary School carried out by Education Scotland. The letter sent by Education Scotland to the parents and carers of pupils detailing the outcome of the inspection was set out at Appendix 1 of the report. DECIDED: That the key strengths in the Education Scotland report for Glencoats Primary School be noted and celebrated and the areas for further improvement be recognised.